24th horse death occurs at Santa Anita

Published
11:03 pm CDT, Friday, May 17, 2019

FILE - In this Thursday, March 28, 2019, file photo, a few horses and riders are seen on the track while members of the California Horse Racing Board weigh new safety and medication rules in the wake of 22 horse deaths at Santa Anita Park, during a meeting at the track in Arcadia, Calif. The Stronach Group are the owners of Santa Anita Park that was the site of 23 horse deaths over a span of three months. less

FILE - In this Thursday, March 28, 2019, file photo, a few horses and riders are seen on the track while members of the California Horse Racing Board weigh new safety and medication rules in the wake of 22 ... more

Photo: Amanda Lee Myers, AP

Photo: Amanda Lee Myers, AP

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FILE - In this Thursday, March 28, 2019, file photo, a few horses and riders are seen on the track while members of the California Horse Racing Board weigh new safety and medication rules in the wake of 22 horse deaths at Santa Anita Park, during a meeting at the track in Arcadia, Calif. The Stronach Group are the owners of Santa Anita Park that was the site of 23 horse deaths over a span of three months. less

FILE - In this Thursday, March 28, 2019, file photo, a few horses and riders are seen on the track while members of the California Horse Racing Board weigh new safety and medication rules in the wake of 22 ... more

Photo: Amanda Lee Myers, AP

24th horse death occurs at Santa Anita

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ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — A 24th horse has died at Santa Anita, the first since March 31.

Commander Coil broke down during training hours Friday, sustaining a shoulder injury while galloping that required the 3-year-old gelding to be euthanized, according to a statement from The Stronach Group, which owns the track.

The statement called it an "uncommon injury."

The horse had not yet made his racing debut. He was trained by Marcelo Polanco and owned by Jose Romero.

The track had gone six weeks without a horse fatality. Since various reforms involving race-day medication and safety were instituted on March 15, The Stronach Group says there have been over 80,000 gallops during training with no fatalities.

The previous fatality occurred March 31 when Arms Runner fell during a turf race.

A total of 24 horses have died since Dec. 26.

Also Friday, a 3-year-old filly named Congrats Gal collapsed just past the finish line of the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore, a track also owned by The Stronach Group.